Apparatus for use in the manufacture of elastic cellular filling material.



R. J. CALDWELL & F. PFLEUMER.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC CELLULAR FILLINGMATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

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Patented May 3,1910.

5 B HEB TS- I R. J "CALDWEL & F. PPLEUMER; APPARATUS FOR USE'IN THEMANUFAGTURE 0P ELASTIC CELLULAR FILLING MATERIAL.

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Patented May 3,1910;

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R? J. CALDWELL &" F. PPLEUMER. APPABATUSPOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OFELASTIC GELLULAETILLING MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1909.

PatntedMayfi, 1910.

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R. J. CALDWELL & F. PPLEUMBR. APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFAUTURE 0PELASTIC CELLULAR FILLING MATERIAL.

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UNITED srnr as PATENT onmen.

ROBERT JOHN CALDWELL, OF NEW SOUTHGATE, AND FRITZ PFLEUMEB, OF LONDON,

- ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC CELLULAR FILLINGMATERIAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 23, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Serial No. 509,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT JOHN CALD- WELL, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at New Southgate, Middlesex, England, and FnrrzPFLEUMER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing atLondon, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Use in the Manufacture of Elastic Cellular FillingMaterial, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture ofelastic cellular, foamy or spongy material for filling tires, cushionsand the like, for example by the process-described in the specificationof Letters Patent Nos. 851960, dated April 30, 1907, and 932318, datedAugust 24, 1909, and in our Letters Patent No. '9-18845, dated February8, 1910, said apparatus being of the kind in which there is a closedvessel capable of withstandin high internal pressures and provided withan internal rotary stirrer. According to the present invention, in orderto enable the pressure to be conveniently raised in the interior of saidclosed vessel and therefore also in the tires or other objects to befilled, or to facilitate the expulsion of the contents of said vessel,the closed vessel is provided with a piston or plunger that slidesfluid-tight therein and is moved by hydraulic power or other suitablemeans, for example, by a piston moving in a fluidpressure cylinderattached to or combined with said closed Vessel. The stirrer-spindlepreferably extends fluid-tight through said piston or pistons andthrough the cylinder containing the'latter, and in order to permitcollapsing of the stirrer during the movement into the closed vessel ofthe said piston or plunger, the stirrer-blades are mounted on thestirrer-spindle in such a manner that they can move axially along saidspindle but are prevented from turning relatively thereto. Suitablemeans, such as hooks or links, are provided for limiting the separationof said blades during work. Moreover the bearing of the stirrer-shaft ispreferably detaehably mounted on the exterior of the frame of themachine to ermit collapse of the stirrer withoutor be ore movement ofthe said iston or plunger. In order to produce el ficient circulationofthe material, the stirrer-blades are preferably arranged so as topropel the said material near the axis of said vessel in one directionparallel to said axis and the material near the eriphcry of said vesselin the opposite direction parallel to said axis. This may be effectedeither by inclining the parts of the' blades near the axis in onedirection and parts of said blades remote from the axis in the oppositedirection or by providing separate suitably inclined blades for eachdirection of propulsion. The closed vessel is moreover provided near thebottom with an aperture that may be closed by a rotary or sliding valvewhich brings the said vessel into and out of communication with acylinder for receiving the tanning material, 6. g. a solution ofpyrogallol. This cylinder has a suitably packed piston movable freelytherein to permit the application of a highpressure fluid for injectingthe tanning material into the closed vessel containing the material tobe tanned, e. g. a mixture of glycerin and gelatin, without allowing thepressure in said vessel to rise unduly, for example, the said pistonabuts against the end of its cylinder and so prevents the pressure ofthe high-pressure fluid from being communicated to the interior of thevessel containing the material to be tanned. In cases where theapparatus is to be used for filling hollow tires, the outlet orifice ofthe closed vessel, or each of such orifices, is provided with a fittingconsisting of a plurality of telescopic tubular arms radiating from acylinder or pipe connected to said orifice, the communicating passagesbetween said cylinder or pipe and the interior of said arms beingcontrolled by a valve whereby said passages may be simultaneously openedand closed. The free ends of these telescopic arms are provided withmeans for coupling them to the inlet apertures of the tire, andpreferably also with separate slide or other suitable valves.

In the accompanying drawings, it is shown I vertical central sectiondrawn to an enlarged scale and showing the upper part of the apparatusincludin the driving gear for the stirrer and the hy raulic piston orlunger. Fig, 2? is a view showing part of Fig. --2

drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a plan of the ripper paint of theapparatus shown in 1 Fig. 2, illustratin a detail of construction. Fig 4is a vertica central section drawn to a still further enlarged scale andshowing the lower part of the apparatus including the stirrer and thecylinder from which the tan solution is inflected into the material to.be stirred. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is aplan view of the stirrer. v Fi 6 is a developed side view of one hall 0the circumference of the stirrer plus the width of one blade, the bladesbeing their collapsed position.

Fig. 7 is a plan of one of the longer stirrerj- .pl-ates uni-bent, withthe hooks in section on the line A A, Fig. 8, and i8 is'an end,elevation 01 the plate shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 iS a similar view to Fig,7, showing one of the shorter stirrer-plates. Fig. 10 is a lon itudinalcentral section of the apparatus or filling the spongy or ioamy materialinto hollow vehicle tires. I i 11 is a transverse section on the line BB, lg. 10, and Fig. 1'2 is an end View of one of the radial arm's ofsaid tire-filling apparatus. v Fig. 13 is a side elevation partlyventical central section, showing a modified form of the improvedapparatus. Fig. 14 is a side elevation and Fig. 1 5 is an end elevationof a modified formof stirrer-plate.

Like characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to these drawings a is a cylindrioal boiler or vessel that iscapable of withstanding high pressures and can be maintained at asuitable temperature above that of the atmosphere, for example, .by

means of a hot water bath or g'achet such as that shown in Fig. 13.'This boiler is preferably upright, as shown. in Fig. 1. b is a c.linder which forms an upward extension 0% 'or cover to said boilerand ispreferably secured to said boiler by means of flanges engaging with asuitable numberofclamps 15 15, provided with winged screws 16, 1'6, soas to enable the said extension to ,be readily removed to permit accessbeing had to the interior of the-boiler. In the extension 7) is fitted ahydraulic piston 0 provided with suitable packing d and connected bytubes 6, f to a piston g which fits the interior of the boiler a. Byadmitting water under pressure into the space alcove the pietonc, f0rexample,thrcugh an aperture such as that shown at b, Fig. 13, the pistong can be caused to I rose on the contents of the boiler in ordgr toexpel the same. Through the center of the ram formed by the pistons 0,.g, there extends a spindle h which is packed at d where it extendsthrough thepiston c and :at b" by means of a gland and stating-box whereit passes out or Jtihe ,ext'ensionor hydraulic cylinder t. es

The spind'le 'hfii's rotatably mounted at its *lar 17 by means of screws18, 18.

frame of the machine by means of a bayenet-jcint m controlled by ahandle 0%, so as to enable the bearing j to be released to allow thespindle h to be pushed up out of the -boiler by the pressure of thematerial therein.

The spindle 7b is adapted to be rotated through miter-gearing n, a froma shaft 0 rotatably mounted in the frame A: and driven, e. g. bybelt-gearing p, p from an electric motor such as that shown at 33, Fi13. That part it" of the spindle h, which is in the boiler a, is squaredand a stirrer, which consists of a series of independent plates 9, geach having a square hole :in the middle and forming a pair of blades,is slid on it. Each plate, except the middle plate ,*h'as a hook a" ateach end to engage with the preceding plate (reckoning from the ends ofthe stirrer) which has a slight angular displacement relatively theretoon the spindle. The uppermost plate is rotata'bly mounted on and at ashort distance below the piston g, as shown in 2 and 2 where the plate 9is secured to a flanged col- The flanged collar 17 is slidab'ly mounted"on the squared portion h of the spindle h and r'o 'tates therewith, andis swiveled to the undersi'de of the piston g by the connection 19. Thelowermost plate g is rigidly connected 'to the lower end of the squaredportion h of the shaft h. The connection shown in the drawing consistingoita collars engaging the underside of said plate and the "screw 8extending through said collar intothe lower end of the shaft. Each-alternate plate 9 has fixed thereto a shorter plate 25 "also formington 9 is retracted, and the spindle 72, is in the operativeposition, thetop and bottom plates 'g are drawn apart and "the intermediate lladesare held at the correct distances a cart by thehooks a", r, asshown in Fig. 4. men the top and bottom plates are pressed together,either by withdrawing the spindle h or by l'orcing'in the piston g, thewhole stirrer collapses into a small space.

In Figs. 14 and -15 a modified form of stirrer ate 520 is shown, inwhich the parts g, Q" toward its ends are inclined in one 'di-, recti'onand the partst, t" near the axis are inclined in the opposite direction,the arts 9', jg bearing the hooks 97,2". These pdates 20 may be used inplace of the plates '9, if.

-' 1909,'Serial In the lower part of the boiler a is provided anaperture to controlled by a rotary or sliding valve 0, Figs. 4 and 4:which is pivoted at o and actuated by means of a segmental gear-wheel 0formed thereon and enga ing with a pinion 'w having a packed spin le wprovided with an external handle an, whereby the valve may be opened andclosed. Beyond the valve 0, the aperture u is connected by a suitableunion y to the outlet of a cylinder 2 which has a piston 1 moving freelybut fluid-tight therein (6. y. it may be packed by pump leathers on opposite sides as shown) and has an aperture provided with a union 2 wherebyit may be connected to a reservoir 31 of air or other gas at a highpressure, Fig. 13. By removing the cyllnder a, it may be filled throughthe outlet aperture with a solution of tanning material which may beinjected into the boiler a by admitting high pressure air into the saidcylinder at the other side of the piston 1.

Near the bottom of the boiler a are one or more openings 3 provided withsuitable cocks 4 for the purpose of withdrawing the finished material. Aconvenient number of cocks is four set at equal distances around theboiler; one only however is shown in the drawing.

The tire-filling apparatus consists of a cylinder 5 which is connectedwith the boiler a through the cock 4: and is provided with a piston 6operated by means of a screw T rotatably attached to the piston 6 and anut 8, by hydraulic power or other suitable means. This apparatus, fortires of the ordinary size used on motor cars, has four radialtelescopic tubular arms set at 90 to each other, each consisting of anouter tube 9 and an inner tube 10 and provided with its independentslide-valve 11' which is connected to each of the filling nippleslz, 12onthe tire rim 13. When the piston 6 is withdrawn past the inner ends ofthe tubes9, 9, the material is allowed to flow simultaneously into thetire at four points, the streams spreading out in each direction andjoining up at four points midway between the points of entry. The airwhich was previously in the tire escapes through suitable aperturesformed in the tire between the inlets for the foamy material, forexample, as set forth'in the specification of a former ap lication filedon the 6th July ilo. 5.06100.

Although'the fitting described above is for filling two tires,"it may bemade longer to provide for the filling of a number (5 or 6) of tiressuccessively in one operatioin In Fig. 13, a form of 'a paratus isshown, in which the closed vesse 'a is arranged at an angle and isheated by means of a water- 'bath 24, in which itis moun'ted. In thisarrangement, the outlet-nozzle 3 for'the cellular material extendsthrough a hole 25 in the wall of the water-bath 24, escape ofwater atthe several joints being prevented by means of leather, india-rubber orlike packing-rings 26, 27 which engage with a flange 28 on the vessel aand with a screwthreaded collar or nut 29 on the externally-screw-threaded outlet piece 3. The injection-cylinder 2 is connected tothe interior of the vessel (1 through a cock '0 and through a pipe 30 toa compressed air-cylinder 31. The shaft 0 is here driven by belting 82from an electro-motor 83, the current to which may be supplied theretofrom electric supply mains 34 through a wattmeter 35 or an ammeter, soas to enable the power taken by the stirrer at any time to be readilymeasured.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for the manufacture of elastic cellular material forfilling tires, cushions and other containers of variable. capacity, saidapparatus comprising a closed vessel capable of withstanding internalpressure, a piston movable in said vessel, and a collapsible stirrer insaid vessel.

2. An apparatus for the purposes specified, said apparatus comprising aclosed vessel capable of withstanding internal pressure, a pistonmovable in said vessel, a stirrer-spindle extending through said pistonin said closed vessel, stirrer-blades movable axially on but rotatablewith said spindle, and means for limiting the separation of saidstirrer-blades;

3. An apparatus for the purposes specified, said apparatus comprising aclosed vessel capable of withstanding internal pressure, a iston movablein said vessel, a stirrer-spindle extending throu h said piston in saidclosed vessel, stirrerlades movable axially on but rotatable with saidspindle, a stirrer-blade rotatably mounted on said piston, astirrer-blade fixed to the end of said spindle and hooks at the ends ofstirrer-blades for engaging adjacent stirrerblades.

4. An apparatus for the purposes specified, said apparatus comprising aclosed vessel capable of withstanding internal pressure, a pistonmovable in said vessel, a spindle extending through said piston insaidclosed vessel, as indie-bearing detachably sup orted on said closedvessel, stirrerbla es movable axially on but rotatable with saidspindle, and means for limiting the separation of said stirrer-blades.

5. An apparatus for the purposes specified, said apparatus comprising aclosed ves-'- sel capable ofwithstandingv Internal pres sure, a pistonmovable in said vessel, a h draulic cylinder detachably mounted on said.closed vessel, a piston movable fluid-tight in said cylinder andconnected to the piston in;

. lea" said closed vessel and a collapsible stirrer; in said vessel.

"6. A11 :ap paratns tor the purposes specitied, said apparatuscomprising :a closed vessel capable, of w 'mllhstandnmg internal pressure, a iston movable in said vessel, .a stirreraspmdleextending-through said piston in said closed vessel, stirrerablades-mov- I 'aiile axially on but rotatable with said spind'le, saidstirrer-blades comprising surfaces arranged ,near the axis and inclinedone direction and .surdiacesarranged near the periphery at the closedvessel and inclined the (opposite direction, and means tor limiting-theseparation of ,said 'stirrepblades.

"7. Am apparatus for purposes specified, said apparatus comprising aclosed Vessel capable of withstanding internal pressure, :a pistonmovable said vessel, a stir rer-spindle extending-through said pistonsaid closed vessel, stirrer-blades movable axially but rotatable withsaid spindle, smote of said stirrer-blades being short and inclined inone direction and others hein g R and inclined in the oppositedirection, 2am means for limiting the separation of said stirrerlalades.

apparatustfor the purposes specified, said-apparatus temp-rising .aclosed vessel capable-201E withstand-ling internal pres- :sure,-ap1stonmovable in said vessel, a collapsible stirrer in :said vessel, aninjectioninder, a piston movable in said injectioncyildnder, and a valvecontrolling the corn- .innnieation between the interior ofinjection-cylinder and the interior, of said closedkgeml. V f

9. I a, H rates :or :pnnposes specisaid d gparatns eotno prising arlo'sed snre,:a apiston movable in said vessel, a@co1 laapsihle stirrerin said vessel, a cylinder in communication with :the interiorsoafsaidclosed. vessel, or plnralityof telescopic arms 1 from saidcylinder and mommumri oating Wcth'stheinlhenior thereof, a valvemovable'ztlmsidtight in said cylinder and-controlling the communicationbetween said eylinder and said arms, and means for moving said valve.

itO. apparatus for the purposes speciriled, said apparatus comprising =aclosed vessel capable of Withetandingi'ntermal pres sored-a pistonmovalilein said vessel, a fluidpressure cylinder :detaehably mounted onsaid closed vessel, 1a piston movable fluid tiaghtzincsaid cylinder and:eonnected to the piston in saidelosed vessel, an spindle extendingthrough said pistons into said no closed vessel, an vendsthrustespindlehearing detadiahly supported on "said vessel; stirrerblades anaovahlesmelly on but rotatable with said spindle, and means for the:stinn.;eozt said rstimferablades.

v interior of said closed vessel.

vessel eap able oiE withstanding internal pres 3th An tor the purposesspecies aeea filed, said apparatus comprising a closed vessel capableozt withstanding internal pres. sure, a piston movable in said vessel, afluidpressure cylinder detachabl y mounted on said closed vessel, apiston movable fluidtight in said cylinder and connected to the piston:i-n said closed vessel, va spindle ex tending through said pistons intosaid closed vessel, a eolapsible zstirrer mounted on said spindle, meansfor rotating said spindle, 'inj-ection-oylinder,.a piston movable insaid injeotion-qyhnder, and a valve controlling the communicationbetween the interior of said injection cylinder and the l2. An apparatusfor the purposes specified, said apparatus comprising a closed vesselcapable of withstanding internal pressure, a piston movable in saidvessel, a fluid-pressure cylinder detachably mounted on said closedvessel, a piston mov'able fluid- %tight in said cylinder and connectedto the piston in said closed vessel, a spindle-extending. through saidpistons into said closed vessel, a collapsible stirrer mounted on saidspindle, an injection cylinder, a piston mov able in :saidection-c'ylinder, a valve controlling the communication between theinterim of said injection-cylinder and the interior of said closedvessel, a tire-filling cylinldeir in communication with the interior of.said closed vessel, a plurality of telescopic arms radiating from saidtire-filling cylin- 'der and communicating with the .lElIBI'lDI thereof,a valve movable fluid-tight in said tire-fillingcy-linder andcontrolling :the comxnunication between said tire-filling cylinder andsaid arms, and means for moving said valve L3. An apparatus .for thepurposes .speci- ,fied, said apparatus comprising a closed vesseleapahle of withstanding internal pres :sure, a piston movable in saidvessel, a collapsible stirrer in said vessel, an electro- .motor andower-transmission-gearin-g between saidlstirrer amd-said electromotor.

14 An apparatus tor the purposes s eoi- ;fied, said apparatuscom-prlsing a 0 need vessel :eapable of withstanding internal pressure,a piston movable in said vessel, a 11 stirrerspindle extending throughsaid pis- :ton in said closed vessel, stirrer-blades movable axially onbut rotatable with said spindle, andmea-ns for limiting the separationOil said stimereblades, aan electromotor, a driving shaft to saidelectromotor, and

'power transm-ission gearing connecting said stirrenspindle and-thedriving shatt o frsaid eleotnomotor.

15. apparatus for the ,purposesspeoi- :fied, said apparatus comprising aclosed vessel capable .of'withstanding internal ,pressure, a {pistonmovable in said vessel, a stirrer-spindle extending through said pistoninto-said closed vessel, an end-thrust r bearing for said spindle, meansfor detachably mounting sald bearing on said Vessel, stirrer-bladesmovable axia 1y on but rotatable with said spindle and means forlimiting the separation of said stirrer-blades.

16. An apparatus for the purposes s ecified, said apparatus comprising ac osed vessel capable oi withstanding internal pressure, a pistonmovable in said vessel, a stirrer-spindle extending through said pistonin said closed Vessel, stirrer-blades mounted iting the axial separationof said stirrer- 15- blades.

ROBERT JOHN CALDWELL. FRITZ PFLEUMER.

Witnesses GEORGE HARRISON, LIONEL HOLMES.

